Automatic coffee brewer or maker



Oct. 30, 1945, C, BAUMANN 2,387,871

AUTOMATIC COFFEE BREWER OR MAKER Filed Sept. 15, 1945 ii is I AUTGMATICcoma BREWER on Manna Roger C. Baumann, West Memphis, Ark.

T i 7 Application September 13, 1943, Serial No. 502,111

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for steeping granular materiahas inthe brewing of coffee.

It particularly relates to a device of this kind in which coffee for asingle cup is measured and a measured quantity ofwater heated to adesired temperature is broughtrin contact with this measured amount ofcoffee to make the single cup of coffee, and this. operationis repeatedfor each cup made. I

At the present time coffee is made largely in quantity andis kept hotuntil used, the result usually being that the freshly, made cofi'ee isoften weak and the last used coflee has become hat and much lesspalatable than it should be.

The objects of the invention are: u To provide means-and methods formaking coffee of uniform strength and at uniform temperature; v I

To provide means and methods for making coffee in individual units-of asingle cup;

To provide means for adjusting the strength .of the coffee from time totime; u v

To provide meansifor mechanically performing the various operationsandmaking the neces- A sary measurements whereby the variations inmeasurements from cup to cup, clue to human frailty, aresubstantially'eliminated. h

A further object is to reduce the labor element necessary and minimizewaste of materials used.

In accomplishing these objects, means are providedfor measuring out thequantity of coffee vneeded tov make a single cup ofvdesired strength,and for automatically repeating this measuring operation for eachsucceeding cup, and provision is made for adjusting the quantitymeasured, to increase or decrease the strength as desired. Provision isalso made for concurrently measuring out the necessary amount of' waterfor each cup and for maintaining the water at the desired temperature;and provision is also made for coordinating the measuring or the coffeeand the feeding in of the water.

The'means by which these and other objects oi the invention are carriedout, will readily be understood from the following specification uponreference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the device showing all the parts in oneplane-for simplicity of description, though not necessarily in theactual positions which they may occupy.

Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic sections, taken as on the line 11-11 andIII1II respectively, of Fig. 1, showing the switching mechanism operatedby certain of the cams for making and hopper.

breaking'an electric circuit actuating the ,various mechanisms employed,Y I v Figs. 4 and 5 are-sections, taken on the line IV-IV and V-V of-Fig. 1, showing the preferred contour of the cams which respectivelyoperate the coffee and water measuring apparatus.

Referring now to the drawing in which the various parts are indicated bynumerals:

II is a hopper in which thecoflee i3, ground to desired fineness, isplaced. This hopper feeds by gravity into a measur n apparatustherebel0w, this apparatus comprising an elongated coilee barrel I5.disposed in substantially horiz0ntal position immediatelybelow thehopper. is

opened thereintc for reception of coffee from the Mounted in the barrelis a plunger l9 which may have a disc-like head 2], with which acam Cam23 is mounted on and secured to a shaft 25 suitably Journalled insupports, not shown. Return movement of the plunger i9 is effected by aspring 21. Shaft 25. is driven a" through a worm 29 and gear 3 I Orotherdesired form of reduction gearing, by a motor 33.

35 is the cylinder of a water pump in which is mounted a reciprocableplunger 3'! which is reciprocatedthrough a piston rod 39 and disc 4| bya second cam 43, also secured on and turned by the shaft 25. Plunger isreturned to initial position by a spring 45. I is a water reservoirwhich is connected by a passageway 49 with the cylinder 35, this,passageway at its entrance into the cylinderbeing provided with'a checkvalve 5|, here indicated as of disc type. f

Mounted within the reservoir 41, as on a pivot support '53, is an armwhich carries at one 'end. afloat 51 responsive to water level in thereservoir. oppositely the arm 55 isconnected through suitable linkage 59with a cut-off valve BI. 63 is a water supply pipe on suitable'source,not shown,through which water is supplied to the reservoir 41, cut-offof supply beingefiected by the valve Bl. l

65 is an electrically energized heating element for heatingwaterin'reservoir 41, and 61 a thermostatic switch controlling electric flowto the heating element 65. v

The pump ,35 is connected by a tubular passageway 69 to an annularchamber ii around the barrel Hi, this chamber discharging throughsuitable ports I3 into the bore I! of the barrel. Also surrounding thebarrel and spaced from the chamber H is a second'annular chamber 15 intowhich water in the bore I! may escape through ports 11. From the chamber15 a passageway I9 leads downward into an annular filter through whichthe water radially escapes into an enclosing chamber 93, from which adischarge pipe leads and discharges as into a cup 31. Return flowthrough tubular passageway 89 into the piston 35 is prevented by checkvalve 09. 9| is a relief valve through which air feeds into the bore I1of the pump barrel to facilitate return movement of the plunger I9.

03 is an adjustable stop which limits return movement of plunger I9,under action of spring 21, and thereby regulates the length of strokeand the quantity of the coiiee delivered. 99 is a similar adjustablestop through which return stroke of the pump plunger 31 is limited.

The motor 33 is energized by electric current from a suitable powercircuit 91 through'suitable leads 99 and I00; and the heating element 00through leads IOI and I02, current flow to the heater 60 beingcontrolled by the thermostatic switch 91, before mentioned.

turning shaft 20 and cams 22, 49, III and III. The raised portion I I6of the cam. I I 5 moves from beneath plunger ifl allowing switch III toclose and through lead 99 and leads I00, I05, I00 and I04, complete acircuit to the motor by-passing switch I09. Cam III, through plunger I2i, opens switch I09 and engages the arm of the switch with latch I I!to hold it open, but energization of the motor continues through theby-pass circuit until raised portion of the cm I II opens switch I I Iand breaks circuit to the motor, completing a cycle.

During each cycle the motor turns the shaft 20 and the cams 23 and 43thereon one complete turn. In making this turn the cam 22 shifts theplunger I9 and moves a charge of coffee from beneath the hopper into thebarrel I0. As the cam completes shift of the plunger I9, the cam '49 umu extends directly to motor "and lead I00 through lead I09 to a switchI09-andfrom switch I09 through leads I09A, I04 to the motor. Lead I00also extends in parallel'through lead I09 to a second switch III,andfrom this switch through leads I06 and I04 to the motor. Switches I09and III are respectively opened by cams H3 andIII, both of which aresecured on the shaft 20 and turn therewith. Leads 99 and I04 may also beextended to energize a vibrator I01 which facilitates discharge fromhopper II.

Cam II3 has a flattened sector which permits closing of switch I09during a limited period of rotation, and cam iii a raised portion IIB,which accomplishes opening of switch III during a substantiallyconcurrent, but more limited period.

Switch I09, when opened, is held open by a latch II! which is releasedto initiate action by a manually operable button H9, and when soreleased, establishes a circuit through its contacts to the motor 99 andvibrator I01. I2 I is a plungor which cooperates with cam III to engagearm of switch I09,-to open the switch, and engage the switch armwith-latch I I1. I29 is a plunger which engages the disc 4| and shiftsthe plunger 41, displacing from the-cylinder 30 a charge of watersuflicient to make a cup of coffee, this water passing through the ports19 into the barrel and initially wasting through the then open endthereof. The cycle'is repeated until a charge of coflee has been-shiftedpast the ports I2, and the water subsequently entering through theseports lixiviates such charge, and is further reis engaged by cam'portion H0 to open switch I.

In using the machine, coffee is placed in the hopp r II and water turnedon through pipe 09. Switch 99 is closed, energizing leads 99 and I00 andthrough leads IOI, I02, the heater through the waterin the reservoir isheated, such heating continuing until the thermostatically controlledvalvefl efl'ects cut-oil. and thereafter being resumed and cut-oil.automatically as temperature falls or rises.

Should the switch I09 or the switch Ill be closed when switch 99 wasclosed, current would also flow through loads 99 and I00 to the motorenergizing the motor, and through reduction.- gears 29, 3|, turn theshaft 25 producing partial or complete strokes of the coflee plunger I9and the pump plunger 91. If switch I09 is closed cam III almostimmediately opens it, but energization' continues 'until raised portionIIB of cam II 0 opens switch I and breaks the circuit to the motor,leaving the cams I II, II 5 in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, withthe switch I09 held open by latch Ill and switch III held open by cam H5and plunger I23.

To operate, button I I9 is pushed to raise latch III and allow switchl09 to close, completing circuit through lead 99 and leads I00, I00, I09.

'and I04 to the motor 33, energizing and starting it, the motor, throughreduction gears 29, CI,

peated until displaced charges block up the barrel beyond the ports "I1and effect a substantial closure against escape of water through the endof the barrel.

Afterthe barrel is filled and end closure accomplished eachsubsequenVaction discharges a spent char e from the end of the barrel.With the barrel filled, button III is pushed ss'coifee is desired. Eachpushof the button energizes the motor, as described above. Plunger I0shifts a fresh charge of coifee discharged from the hopper II and in sodoing shifts a previous charge beyond the annular channel II around thecoffee barrel. 'Water at proper temperature is deliv-- ered by' the pump-91 to channel II --and through coifee'c'harge in barrel, and ports 11to chamber I9, andthrough'nlter II and spout 91 by screwing the stop 95toward or away from the disc 4I of'the plunger to shorten or lengthenthe stroke, as the case may be. r i

I claim:

1. A device for steeping a granular material, as coffee, which includesa horizontally disposed elongated barrel open at both ends, a storagehopper above said barrel intermediate its length and opening into saidbarrel, a plunger reciprocally mounted in one end of said barrelimmediately adjacent said hopper opening, a fluid injection chamberaround and in communication with said barrel, spaced along said barrelfrom said hopper opening, oppositely to said plunger, a fluid dischargechamber around and in communication with said barrel spaced along" saidbarrel from said injection chamber, said'barrel having substantialextension beyond said latter chamber, resilient means holding saidplunger in retracted positionto uncover at least a major portion of saidhopper opening, means? for actuating said plunger, to shift materialdischarged from said hopper into alinement with said injection chamherand displace preceding charges, and means for delivering measuredcharges of liquid, as Water, through said injection chamber, said barreland said discharge chamber to discharge.

2. A device for steeping a granular material, as coffee, which includesa horizontally disposed elongated barrel open at both ends, a storagehopper above said barrel intermediate its length and opening into saidbarrel, a plunger reciprocally mounted in one end of said barrelimmediately adjacent said hopper opening, a fluid injection chamberaround and in communication with said barrel, spaced along said barrelfrom said hopper opening oppositely to said plunger, a fluid dischargechamber around and in communication with said barrel additionally spacedalong said barrel from said injection chamber, said barrel havingsubstantial extension beyond said latter chamber, resilient meansholding said plunger in retracted position to uncover at least a majorportion of said hopper opening, means to limit the 1 retraction of saidplunger, means for actuating said plunger to shift material dischargedfrom said hopper, into alinement with said injection chamber anddisplace preceding charges, and means for delivering measured charges ofliquid, as water, through said injection chamber, said barrel and saiddischarge chamber to discharge.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, in

which said plunger limiting means is adjustable.

4. A device for steeping a granular material, as coffee, which includesa horizontally disposed elongated barrel open at both ends, a storagehopper above said barrel intermediate its length and opening into saidbarrel, a plunger reciprocably .mounted in one end of said barrelimmediately adjacent said hopper opening, a fluid injection chamberaround and in communication with said barrel, spaced along said barrelfrom said hopper ggpening oppositely to said plunger, a fluid dis-Jectlon chamber, said barrel and said discharge chamber to discharge.

5. A device for steeping a granular material, as coffee, which includesa horizontally disposed elongated barrel open at both ends, a storagehopper above said barrel intermediate its length and opening into saidbarrel, a plunger reciprocally mounted in one end 01' said barrelimmediately adjacent said hopper opening, a fluid injection chamberaround and in communication with said barrel, spaced along said barrelfrom said hopper opening oppositely to said plunger, a fluid dischargechamber around and in communication with said barrel spaced along saidbarrel from said injection chamber, said barrel having substantialextension beyond said latter chamber, resilient means holding saidplunger in re- 1 tracted position to uncover at least a major portion ofsaid hopper opening, means for actuating said plunger, to shift materialdischarged from said hop'per into alinement with said injection chamberand displace preceding charges, means for delivering measured charges ofliquid, as water, through said injection chamber, said barrel and saiddischarge chamber to discharge, and means for coordinating actuatingmovements or said plunger and said liquid measuring and deliveringmeans.

6. A device for steeping a granular material, as coffee, which includesa horizontally disposed elongated barrel open at both ends, a storagehopper above said barrel intermediate its length and opening into saidbarrel, 9, plunger reciprocally mounted in one end of said barrelimmediately adjacent said hopper opening, a fluid injection chamberaround and in communication with said barrel, spaced along said barrelfrom said hopper opening oppositely to said plunger, a fluid dischargechamber around and in communication with said barrel spaced along saidbarrel from said injection chamber, said barrel having substantialextension beyond said latter chamber, resilient means holding saidplunger in retracted position to uncover at least a major portion ofsaid hopper opening, means for actuating said plunger, to shift materialdischarged from said hopper into alinement with said injection chamherand displace preceding charges, a liquid supply tank in communicationwith said injection chamber, means I01 heating liquid in said tank, andmeans for delivering measured charges of liquid, as water, from saidtank through said injection chamber, said barrel and said dischargechamber to discharge.

- ROGER C. BAUMANN.

